Crime and Court Roundup: Jury resumes deliberations in Koula trial

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A jury in La Crosse County resumes deliberations today in the case of a man accused of killing his parents. In 2010, the parents of Eric Koula were found in their home dead of gunshot wounds to their heads. Prosecutors claim Koula shot his parents to deal with own money problems. They point to a 50-thousand dollar forged check purportedly from Koula's father. The defense claims the deaths were the work of a professional killer and point there is no forensic evidence linking the accused the crime.

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The Dane County Sherriff's Department says a squad car was nearly side swipped by a drunk driver. Just after one a-m, a deputy made a traffic stop in the city of Madison and before the deputy got out, a car coming from behind almost crashed into the squad. The deputy followed that vehicle, pulling over the driver. The 26-year-old woman was arrested for driving under the influence and failing to move over when approaching an emergency vehicle.

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Seventeen people who protested outside of a Racine home did not have to go to court Monday. The group was to stand trial yesterday after being ticketed in January for demonstrating outside a fundraiser for Republican state lawmaker Robin Vos. The protestors were found in violation of city ordinance but the accused are citing freedom of speech rights. The case will be fought by legal briefs, to be decided by a judge.

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State Supreme Court Justice David Prosser now wants all of his fellow justices to step aside in his ethics case. The Journal Sentinel reports Prosser and another justice will not participate in the case. Because four-of-seven justices are needed to move the case forward, if two more justices step aside, action against Prosser would effectively end. He is accused of ethical violations in putting his hands around the neck of Justice Ann Walsh Bradley during a heated office exchange in 2011. Prosser has contended Bradley came at him and he raised his hands defensively, a claim she denies. In March, Prosser said he'd be requesting his colleagues-some who witnessed the incident and others who heard about it - to step aside. On Monday, Prosser made his final request, to Justice Annette Ziegler.

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Seven people who claim to have been illegally searched by Milwaukee police are moving toward filing lawsuits. The alleged victims claim the police department did not adequately train officers in these methods and did not punish previous cases where the officers went too far. The Journal Sentinel reports some of the complaintants are also involved in John Doe investigation on whether officers sexually assaulted and violated civil rights in rectal searches for drugs. Eight police personnel have been stripped of their badges pending outcome of these investigations. Others are keeping an eye on the situation as well including internal affairs, federal officials and the Common Council.

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